Still have questions after browsing these FAQ’s? Please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

FAQ’s

How do I build a Yurt Cabin?

The Yurt Cabin is a complete DIY wood yurt kit that is delivered to your building site. It can be assembled by anyone with a bit of DIY experience (think Ikea furniture). The Yurt Cabin uses simple bolt-together assembly methods with no need for expensive tools or special expertise. Its built-in foundation and adjustable leveling system eliminate the need for a platform, so it can be installed from start to finish in 3-5 days! In some cases, customers will hire a contractor to set up their Yurt Cabin. Each Yurt Cabin order will include full site preparation and assembly manuals with detailed instructions, videos, and phone support from our team. Consider inviting friends and family to join you in assembling your Yurt Cabin and make its construction into a communal experience! Click here to watch the full assembly video.

How durable is the Yurt Cabin compared to fabric yurts?

Freedom Yurt Cabins are expected to last many decades, which can be up to 2-3 times longer than a fabric yurt. The Yurt Cabin is considered a prefabricated structure, and should be maintained similarly to a traditional house. The walls should be repainted and restained every 5-10 years. The DuroLast® vinyl topcover should be replaced as necessary, sometime after its 15-year warranty expires. The LP SmartSide® structural panels, used on the wall pieces, are an engineered house siding product with an expected lifetime of 50+ years. Please consult a member of our staff to ask about special environmental conditions that may affect the longevity of your Yurt Cabin.

Will my Yurt Cabin require a building permit?

Building code requirements can vary greatly from state to state, and even within different municipalities/counties. Then, your intended use will also govern whether or not you need a building permit. It’s best to check with your local building department before purchasing a Yurt Cabin. We will happily provide a set of plans so that a building inspector can see how our unique Yurt Cabins are constructed. As most building departments may only have experience with fabric yurts, be sure to emphasize that Yurt Cabins are more similar to a prefabricated wood home and can be left in place as a permanent structure for the duration of their use. However, at the same time, a Yurt Cabin can be a classified as a temporary structure depending on the owner’s intended use. Its integrated base system allows the entire unit to be disassembled and moved with no trace left behind. Scroll to the bottom of the page to read more about Yurt Cabins and building codes.

Yurts are typically built on a foundation, but your Yurt Cabin is not. Does this mean that Yurt Cabins are portable?

Yes, because of the innovative foundation system of leveling feet built into every Yurt Cabin, these structures can be assembled with minimal site preparation. This not only saves you time, but saves you money from having to build your own platform or paying a contractor to do it. The Yurt Cabin’s feet will sit on inexpensive concrete pavers, called “piers.” Once the Yurt Cabin’s joists are set on these piers, each will be leveled individually and the joists will be anchored to the ground using innovative Duckbill Earth Anchors. Our system gives you the ability to move your Yurt Cabin with next to no footprint left behind. If building codes require you to construct your Yurt Cabin on a concrete slab, or if you need to build a wooden deck on sloped/rocky land, we can provide you with different anchoring hardware to suit the specific needs of your project.

Can I run electricity and plumbing into my Yurt Cabin?

Yes, wires and pipes from existing sources can easily be run from beneath the Yurt Cabin through the plywood floor sheathing. Wires can be routed around the circumference of the structure behind a baseboard, then routed up to outlets or lighting fixtures using conduit. If you choose to build an interior wall, the wiring and plumbing can be housed inside this wall.

Can I build walls or a loft inside of my Yurt Cabin?

Yes. Walls and lofts can be framed up inside the Yurt Cabin just as they would be in a traditional house. Building a loft will maximize the usable space in your Yurt Cabin and can easily create a spacious sleeping or storage area. Building a “wet wall” is a great way to house your plumbing and wiring out of sight. One side of the wall can be the kitchen, while the other side is the bathroom.

What is the best way to heat and cool my Yurt Cabin?

Customers with Yurt Cabins in colder environments usually install wood stoves. The stove pipe should be vented through a wall panel. Venting through the roof of a Yurt Cabin would void the 15 year warranty on the DuroLast® vinyl roof cover. The chimney can be attached to the exterior log frame. If you have access to electricity, radiant heaters are another good option.

In hotter climates, the Yurt Cabin’s large double-pane, single-hung windows and 360º dome opener are designed to maximize airflow and ventilation. With the addition of a fan mount ($50), warm air can be recirculated downward during the winter, and hot air can be vented up out of the dome during the summer. To cool the Yurt Cabin even further, customers can install window- or wall-mounted, electrical A/C units, like a mini-split A/C. A heat pump A/C unit is a good heating and cooling choice for moderate climates.

Can I connect 2 Yurt Cabins together?

Our wall sections are designed so that you can place a second door almost anywhere. If you are considering connecting a second yurt in the future, we recommend adding a second door when you purchase your first yurt. The roof and valance will be custom cut for this second door, and you will not have to cut or disassemble your wall to add the door later.

To connect 2 Yurt Cabins, we recommend building a breezeway. This simple and cost-effective design prevents wind from funneling around the yurt and into a hard-walled hallway, maintaining the structure’s 120mph wind rating.

Sometimes, it is necessary to connect both Yurt Cabins with a hard-walled hallway. For example, this is necessary if your zoning requires a minimum square footage over 500 sq. ft. In this case, you can work with our engineers & architects to draw up plans for a hard-walled connection that is built by you or a builder on-site (engineering fees apply).

How can I finance a Yurt Cabin?

We do not offer in-house financing. There are several options you can pursue on your own.

Depending on the permitting requirements or your municipality and the fact that our structures are made of wood and have real insulation, some customers are able to obtain a mortgage or a loan through a company called Lightstream.

Other options include personal loans, a home equity/refinance loan, and even in some cases tiny home lenders will offer the same RV fixed rate loans.

A relatively new financing option called “Social Lending” connects individuals looking for a loan with other individuals looking to loan their money. Check out sites like Prosper.com and LendingClub.com to learn more about Social Lending.

We would be happy to help you by answering any questions and providing our engineering plans if it will help obtain a loan.

YURT CABIN permitting information

Click for Permitting Information

Engineer’s Stamp of Approval

For a reasonable fee, you can receive a set of site-specific, wet-stamped plans from our engineer who is licensed in 21 states. These states are CA, CO, DC, GA, HI (restrictions apply), IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, NC, NJ, OR, SC, TX, UT, VA, WV. These stamped plans help provide legitimacy and legality when obtaining a building permit from your local government agency. However, having these stamped plans does not guarantee your planning committee’s approval.

Is your state not listed? Contact us, as our engineer is actively pursuing licensing in other states. Our engineer can also work with an engineer who is registered in your state.

Click here to read an informative document about Yurt Cabins and building codes in general.

Sales & Use Tax Information

Click for Sales & Use Tax Information

Freedom Yurt Cabins is required to collect sales tax on purchases delivered to California, Colorado, and Nebraska. This includes purchases picked up at our factory in Sidney, Nebraska.

Sales delivered to Washington, Pennsylvania, or Oklahoma: Sales or use tax may be due on your purchase. Freedom Yurt Cabins may or may not collect sales tax on your purchase. These states require you to file a use tax return when sales tax is not paid at the time of purchase. If Freedom Yurt Cabins does not collect sales tax, we may have to provide information to you and your state’s Department of Revenue about the purchases you made where sales tax was not paid. This notice is required by the subsequent laws of each state (WA: 82.13.020(3)(a); PA: 72 P.S. § 7213.2; OK: 68 O.S. §1393).

Sales delivered to Maine: Sales tax may or may not be collected on your purchase. Maine has enacted an Economic Nexus law that will only require sales tax to be charged after a certain threshold of sales have been made into the state. Submit a quote request to see if you will need to pay sales tax here.

All other states: Please refer to your state’s laws about paying use tax on tangible personal property purchased from an out-of-state vendor when sales tax has not been collected on the purchase.

DISCLOSURE: A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision changed the law about when states and local jurisdictions may impose tax on sales by out-of-state vendors. Some jurisdictions are now considering whether and how to impose taxes on sales by out-of-state vendors. Because Freedom Yurt Cabins cannot know in advance what, if anything, your jurisdiction will do in this regard, we may not be collecting tax on the transaction at the time of sale. However, we reserve the right to add sales tax, retroactively if necessary, if required by your state.

YURT CABIN Care & Maintenance Tips

Care & Maintenance Tips

The Yurt Cabin is built to last many decades if properly cared for. In general, its durable and high quality materials require less maintenance than a traditional fabric yurt. Follow the tips and recommendations below to keep your Yurt Cabin looking good for many years to come.

Durolast® Vinyl TopcoverThe vinyl should be cleaned twice a year, or as needed, with a mild soap and warm water. Recommendations for cleaning would include hand scrubbing with a soft bristle brush using a ladder around the lower perimeter areas and using the dome opening for access to the top areas. Be sure to protect the top cover before sliding the dome down to remove it. In areas where tree sap and leaves are a problem, it may be necessary to clean the top every few months. If mildew is ever found growing on the roof, it should be removed with soap and water. In the event the roof ever becomes torn, it can be repaired with a vinyl patch kit available from Freedom Yurt Cabins.

Wood WallsThe factory-applied Behr® Marquee™ paint on the LP® SmartSide™ wall panels should last between 10 and 15 years depending on your environmental conditions. If the paint begins to look dull or dingy, simply wash with a mild soap, scrub brush, and warm water to renew the paint’s good looks. When the exterior walls need a second coat of paint, follow the best practices for painting a house. Prep the walls by washing, sanding, and stripping any old paint. When painting, choose low humidity weather, with temperatures between 50° and 90°, and stay in the shade as much as possible. Don’t paint if rain is likely within 8 hours. Start at the top and work down, keeping a wet edge to avoid leaving lap marks.

Log FramingOnce your existing Weatherall® UV Guard II stain starts to look dull, lightly sand the surface and apply another coat of Weatherall® UV Guard Advance Clear Wood Finish or UV Guard II Wood Finish if more stain is required. Expect to maintain your existing finish every 2 to 4 years on the southern exposure and every 3 to 5 years on the other sides of your structure. Brush the stain into the pores and cracks of the wood. Do not apply UV Guard stain in wet weather, freezing temperatures, or when freezing temperatures are expected within 24 hours.

Top DomeDo not use window cleaning sprays or anything that contains alcohol. Wash acrylic dome with a mild soap (such as hand dishwashing liquid) and lukewarm water. Rinse with clean water. Use a soft cloth, not paper towels or other paper products which tend to scratch the surface finish. To remove greasey substances, use high quality hexane or kerosene. Immediately wash away oily film residues with a mild soap and water solution.

For more maintenance and care tips, refer to each product manufacturer’s website or give us a call at (719) 362-3333.